JP2842380B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera that changes the focal length of a photographic lens in response to a zoom switch operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A zoom-up switch and a zoom-down switch (both of which constitute a zoom switch) that can be operated externally are provided. A camera that changes the focal length of a zoom lens to a wide-angle side by operating a zoom-down switch is known. In this type of camera, a zoom switch is provided exclusively for zooming, and no camera has a function other than zooming.

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which a zoom switch can have a function other than zooming.

[0004]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applied to a camera having a zoom switch for instructing a change of a focal length of a photographing lens, and prohibits a change of a focal length even when the zoom switch is operated when a specific mode is set and a display unit for displaying a numerical value. And control means for changing the display value so that the display value increases in accordance with the number of zoom-up operations of the zoom switch and decreases in accordance with the number of zoom-down operations of the zoom switch. .

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, which shows the overall configuration, FIG.
The CPU 1 that controls the cans has a focal length detection circuit 2
The motor drive circuit 3 and the display circuit 4 are connected respectively. An encoder 6 for detecting the position of the zoom lens 5 is connected to the focal length detection circuit 2.
Input to U1. Here, the zoom lens 5 according to the present embodiment has a variable focal length in a range of 35 mm to 80 mm.

[0006] A zooming motor 7 is connected to the motor drive circuit 3, and the zoom lens 5 is driven by the motor 7 in response to a zooming signal from the CPU 1 described later to change the focal length. A liquid crystal display (hereinafter, LCD) 8 provided on the surface of the camera body is connected to the display circuit 4, and the LCD 8 is driven by a command from the CPU 1 to display a focal length and the like.

The CPU 1 has three switches ZU
S, ZDS and SW1 are connected respectively. The switches ZUS and ZDS are switches that are turned on in conjunction with the operation of a zoom-up button and a zoom-down button (not shown). The switch ZUS is turned on while the zoom-up button is pressed, and the zoom-down button is turned on. While the pressing operation is being performed, the switch ZDS is turned on. CPU1
Outputs a zooming signal to the motor drive circuit 3 when the switches ZUS and ZDS are turned on when the step zoom mode described later is not set, and the zoom lens 5 is turned on while the switch ZUS is turned on. The focal length is changed to the telephoto side, and while the switch ZDS is on, the focal length is changed to the wide angle side. When the operation of the zoom up button and the zoom down button is released, the switch Z
US and ZDS are turned off. Switch ZU
S and ZDS do not turn on at the same time.

The switch SW1 is a switch that is turned on in conjunction with the operation of a mode setting button (not shown).
Sets the step zoom mode when the switch SW1 is turned on. When the step zoom mode is set, the CPU 1 determines the seven focal lengths (35 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, and 45 mm) shown in FIG. 3 based on the number of operations or the operation time of the switches ZUS and ZDS as described later in detail. 5
0 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm) to output a zooming signal to drive the zoom lens 5. Also,
When the switch SW1 is turned on when the step zoom mode is set, the step zoom mode is released.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
A description will be given of a zooming control procedure when the PU1 sets the step zoom mode. When the step zoom mode is set by turning on the switch SW1, this program is started. First, in step S1, a count value K of a counter, which will be described later, is cleared.
Is cleared and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3,
It is determined whether or not the switch ZUS is on. If it is on, the count value K is incremented by "+1" in step S9, and the process proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, in step S3, the switch ZU
If it is determined that the switch SD is turned off, the switch ZD is determined in step S4.
It is determined whether or not S is on, and if S is on, step S18
Increments the count value K by "-1" in step S10.
Proceed to.

In step S10, the count value K is read, and in step S11, the focal length (drive focal length) at which the zoom lens 5 should be driven is set and stored. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the zoomable focal length range (35 mm to 80 mm) of the zoom lens 5 is divided into six regions A to F by the above seven focal lengths. The CPU 1 stores the focal lengths of the zoom lens 5 based on these areas A to F and the count value K in a table as shown in FIG.
The CPU 1 reads the current focal length of the zoom lens 5 from the focal length detection circuit 2 and based on the area (any one of A to F) including this focal length and the count value K read in step S11. The focal length for driving the zoom lens 5 is set, and this is stored in the storage area.

If the current focal length of the zoom lens 5 is the above-mentioned seven focal lengths, when performing zoom-up, the focal length is included in the one closer area, and When performing the down-shift, it is assumed to be included in the one far side area. For example, if the current focal length is 50 mm, this 50 mm is included in the area C when zooming up, and is included in the area D when zooming down.

Next, the process proceeds to step S12, where the display circuit 4
, The focal length set in step S11 is displayed, and the flow advances to step S13. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the switch ZUS is still on.
It is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the count value was updated in step 9. When step S16 is affirmed, step S9 is performed.
If not, the process returns to step S13. If step S13 is denied, then in step S14 switch ZDS
Is turned on. If it is off, step S17
To start the timer and return to step S3. If it is ON, it is determined in step S15 whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the count value was updated in step S18. When step S15 is affirmed, the process returns to step S18, and when denied, the process returns to step S14.

Since the switches ZUS and ZDS are not turned on at the same time as described above, step S
When step S13 is denied from step 3 through steps S9 to S12, step S14 is naturally also denied. Similarly, from step S4 to step S1
8. When step S13 is reached via steps S10 to S12, step S13 is denied.

If it is determined in step S4 that the switch ZDS has been turned off, the process proceeds to step S5, and the process proceeds to step S1.
After the timer starts in step 7, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If step S5 is negative, step S2
In step 5, it is determined whether or not the switch SW1 is on. If the switch SW1 is on, the step zoom mode is canceled to terminate the process, and if it is off, the process returns to step S3.

If step S5 is affirmed, step S6 is reached.
Then, a drive signal is output to the motor drive circuit 3 to drive the zoom lens 5 to the drive focal length set and stored in step S11. Accordingly, the motor drive circuit 3 starts driving the zoom lens 5 by the motor 7 toward the drive focal length. Next, in step S7, it is determined from the output of the focal length detection circuit 2 whether or not the zoom lens 5 has been driven to this driving focal length. If the result is negative, the process stays in step S7 until it is affirmed. S8
To stop the zoom lens 5. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.

According to the above procedure, Steps-Mumo-
When the switch ZUS is turned on in step S3, the count value K is incremented by "+1" in step S9. After step S10, steps S11 and S12 are performed.
And zoom lens 5 based on current focal length and count value
Is set and displayed. Thereafter, each time the switch ZUS is turned on, the count value is incremented by “+1”, and the driving focal length based on this (the focal length farther than the current focal length: see the table of FIG. 5) is changed each time. Updated and displayed. Each time the switch ZUS is turned off, the timer is started in step S17, and if it is determined in step S5 that the time is up, the zoom is performed to a position (drive destination position) having the last set drive focal length. The lens 5 is driven (Steps S6 to S8). That is,
The drive position of the zoom lens 5 is determined by the number of times the switch ZUS is operated.

If the switch ZUS is continuously turned on for a predetermined time after the processing in step S9 after the processing in steps S10 to S12 (determined in step S16), the flow returns to step S9 and the count value K is set to "+1". After that, the count value is incremented by “+1” every predetermined time, and the drive focal length of the zoom lens 5 based on the count value K is set and displayed. And switch ZU
When the operation of S is released, the timer is started in step S17, and thereafter, when it is determined in step S5 that the time is up, the zoom lens is moved to the position where the last set focal length of the driving destination is set similarly to the above. 5 is driven. That is,
When the operation of the switch ZUS is continuously performed, the drive destination position of the zoom lens 5 is determined based on the operation time.

As for the switch ZDS, the drive focal length of the zoom lens can be set from the current focal length to the nearer drive focal length (see FIG. 5) by the number of operations and the operation time as described above. Thereafter, the zoom lens 5 is driven to a position at which the focal length is the driving destination.

Therefore, according to the above, the zoom lens 5
In any position, the zoom lens 5 can be directly driven from the current focal length to the designated driving focal length by designating a desired driving focal length in advance by a switch operation.

The focal length range of the zoom lens 5 is 35
It is not limited to mm to 80 mm. Also, Steps-Mumo-
The driving focal length of the photographing lens at the time of setting the mode is not limited to that shown in FIG. In short, any zoom lens having three or more drive focal lengths may be used. Further, the present invention can be applied to a camera in which a photographer can set three or more drive focal lengths by operating a button or the like.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the focal length at which the zoom lens 5 (FIG. 2) is driven at the time of setting the step-zoom mode is predetermined as shown in FIG. 3, but in the present embodiment, the step-zoom is performed. When the mode is set, switch ZUS,
By operating the ZDS, the drive focal length can be set for each predetermined unit focal length from the current focal length of the zoom lens 5 (hereinafter referred to as fp).

In the first embodiment, it is impossible to start the driving of the zoom lens 5 after setting the focal length of the driving destination and to set the driving lens 5 again during the driving. However, in the present embodiment,
The driving focal length can be set while the zoom lens 5 is being driven.

When the switch SW1 is turned on when the step zoom mode is not set, the step zoom mode is set, and the program shown in FIG. 6 is started accordingly. First, the current focal length f _P of the zoom lens 5 is read from the focal length detection circuit 2 in step S51, the count value K is cleared in step S52, and the timer is cleared in step S53. Next, in step S54, it is determined whether the switch ZUS or the switch ZDS is on. If step S54 is denied, step S5 is reached.
The process proceeds to step 6, and if affirmative, the process proceeds to the subroutine of step S100. This subroutine is for changing the drive destination position of the zoom lens 5, and details thereof are shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, it is first determined in step S101 whether or not the switch ZUS is on. If the result is negative, the process proceeds to step S105, and if the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, the count value K is incremented by "+1", and then the flow proceeds to the subroutine in step S300. This subroutine is for setting and displaying the drive destination position of the zoom lens 5, and details thereof are shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, first, in step S301, the drive focal length f _T of the zoom lens 5 is calculated and set by f _T = f _P + △ f × K (1), and the drive focal length f _{T is} calculated.
Is stored in the storage area. Here, Δf is a unit focal length for driving the zoom lens 5, for example, 10 mm
Is set in advance. Next, in step S302, it is determined whether or not the calculated driving focal length f _T for driving the zoom lens 5 is larger than the focal length f _MAX (for example, 80 mm) at the telephoto end of the zoom lens 5. If step S302 is negative, step S304
If affirmative, in step S303 the focal length f
The process proceeds to step S304 to _MAX as a driving destination focal length f _T. In step S304, it is determined whether the drive focal length f _T calculated in step S301 is smaller than the focal length f _MIN (for example, 35 mm) at the wide-angle end of the zoom lens 5. If step S304 is denied, the process proceeds to step S306. If affirmative, step S305 sets the focal length f _MIN as the drive focal length f _T in step S305.
Proceed to. In step S306, the drive focal length f _T set by the LCD 8 via the display circuit 4 (FIG. 2).
Is displayed.

Thereafter, returning to FIG. 7, it is determined in step S103 whether the switch ZUS is still on. When step S103 is denied, the process proceeds to step S105, and when affirmed, in step S104, step S300 is performed.
It is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the end of the process.
If step S104 is denied, the process returns to step S103, and if affirmed, the process returns to step S102.

In step S105, it is determined whether or not the switch ZDS is on. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S106. If the determination is negative, the process returns to the process of FIG. In step S106, the count value K is incremented by "-1", and then the process proceeds to the subroutine (FIG. 8) in step S300.
As described above, the drive focal length f _T is set and displayed.

Thereafter, in step S107, the switch ZD
It is determined whether S is still on. If step S107 is denied, the process returns to the process of FIG. 6. If affirmed, in step S108, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the end of the process of step S300 after step S106. If step S108 is denied, step S
Returning to 107, if affirmative, the process returns to step S106.

Thereafter, the processing returns to FIG.
In step 5, the timer is started, and the flow advances to step S56.
In step S56, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the timer starts, that is, whether or not the time is up. If step S56 is denied, the process returns to step S54, and if affirmative, the subroutine of step S200 is executed. This subroutine performs a zooming process, the details of which are shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, first, at step S201, f
_P = f _P whether, i.e. set driving destination: focal length f _T
It is determined whether or not the zoom lens 5 is currently located. If step S201 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S60 in FIG. 6 described below, and if negative, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, it is determined whether the f _T> f _P, in the case of f _T> f _P starts zooming up in step S203. That is, the motor 7 is driven by the motor drive circuit 3 to change the focal length of the zoom lens 5 to the far side. On the other hand, in step S202, f _T <f _P
Is determined, zoom-down is started in step S204. That is, the motor 7 is driven by the motor drive circuit 3 to change the focal length of the zoom lens 5 to the near side.

After step S203 or S204,
Returning to the processing of FIG. 6, the current focal length f _P is read from the focal length detection circuit 2 in step S57, and the flow advances to step S58. At step S58, the determination whether or not f _P = f _T, if a negative the program proceeding to the step S61. In step S61, switch ZUS or switch ZD
It is determined whether or not S has been turned on. If the result is negative, the process returns to step S57, and if the result is affirmative, the above-described step S100 is performed.
(FIG. 7), and then the process of step S200 (FIG. 9) is performed, and the process returns to step S57.

If step S58 is affirmed, step S58 is reached.
Proceeding to 59, the zoom lens 5 is stopped, and then it is determined in step S60 whether or not the mode setting switch SW1 is on. If it is on, the process is terminated and the process returns to the normal process (not shown). If it is off, the process returns to step S51.

According to the above procedure, Steps-Mumo-
When the switch ZUS is operated a plurality of times at the time of setting the mode, the count value K is incremented by “+1” each time the switch is operated, and each time the switch ZUS is incremented, the count value K of the zoom lens 5 is calculated based on the above equation (1). The drive focal length f _T is set and displayed. That is,
Assuming that the unit focal length Δf is 10 mm, the drive focal length f _T is changed by 10 mm to the far side each time the switch ZUS is operated. Also, when the switch ZUS is operated continuously, the count value K is "+1" at a time incremented every predetermined time, the driving destination: focal length f _T is changed to 10mm increments far side.

On the other hand, when the switch ZDS is operated a plurality of times or continuously, the count value K is set to "-1" according to the number of operations or the operation time.
The driving focal length f _T is 10 mm
It is changed to the near side one by one.

[0035] Thereafter, when the predetermined time from OFF switch ZUS or ZDS has elapsed,'s toward the set driving destination focal length f _T - timing is started. When the switch ZUS or ZDS is operated during driving of the zoom lens 5 by this zooming, the driving focal length f _T is newly set in the same manner as described above, and the zooming is performed toward the new driving focal length f _T. -The ming is started. The unit focal length described above is not limited to 10 mm, and may be any value as long as three or more drive focal lengths can be set.

In the first and second embodiments,
Although the zooming is started after a predetermined time elapses after the setting of the driving focal length, for example, the zooming may be started when any operation is performed after the setting of the driving focal length. . Further, an example using a zoom lens has been described, but any photographing lens that can have three or more focal lengths may be used.

[0037]

According to the present invention, when the specific mode is set, the numerical value displayed on the display means is changed by operating the zoom switch. Therefore, the zoom switch can be used as another switch, and the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, costs can be reduced. In particular, the display value increases according to the number of zoom-up operations of the zoom switch, and the display value decreases according to the number of zoom-down operations of the zoom switch. The direction of the change of the focal length corresponds to the operation to be performed when the numerical value is changed, so that a quick and error-free operation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a driving focal length during step zooming.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a driving focal length of a photographing lens corresponding to a count value.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 3 Motor drive circuit 4 Display circuit 5 Zoom lens 7 Zooming motor 8 Liquid crystal display (LCD) ZUS Zoom up switch ZDS Zoom down switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kazumi Kazami 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Nikon Oi Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Nakamura 1-3-6 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. Nikon Corporation Oi Works (56) References JP-A-63-195630 (JP, A) JP-A-63-192031 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) ) G02B 7/08 G03B 5/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera having a zoom switch for instructing a change of a focal length of a taking lens, a display means for displaying a numerical value, and when a specific mode is set, the change of the focal length is prohibited even if the zoom switch is operated. Control means for changing the display numerical value so that the display numerical value increases according to the number of zoom-up operations of the zoom switch and the display numerical value decreases according to the number of zoom-down operations of the zoom switch. A camera comprising: